RICHARD Keogh is hoping that his extraordinary consistency for Coventry City could lead to full international honours.

The Harlow-born defender’s Republic Of Ireland qualifications might veer towards the plastic but eight Under-21 caps have established him as a genuine contender.

And Keogh – yet to miss a second of Championship action since signing for the Sky Blues in the summer of 2010 – would relish the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level of the game.

“They’ve shown a little bit of interest but nothing too heavy to be honest,” he said. “I am on the list but Giovanni Trapattoni has been very loyal to the players who have got them to the Euros – rightly so because they have done a fantastic job and deserve their chance there.

“If there are a few injuries I might get a chance but I think that is probably our of my reach now. But I like to think I could be involved in a few squads after the Euros.

“I have been told I am heading in the right direction and that’s the positive news I want – that I am being looked at and they are pleased with my performances and I’m on the short-list.

“It’s something I would love to do but I have got more important things to worry about at the moment and that’s playing for Coventry and keeping us up.”

Keogh has become a cult figure with the Sky Blues supporters and the admiration is clearly mutual as the club’s season-long battle for survival reaches its climax.

“The fans’ passion and drive has helped us come through a very difficult period,” he said, “and it’s in our hands now we’re out of the bottom three.

“We can’t rest on our laurels – the manager has made that perfectly clear to us – but we’ve strung together some decent results and it’s important we keep it going now.We’ve been the underdogs this season and a lot of people have written us off but we like it that way, and I think we have shown we are a match for anyone. .

“We feel we have come of age and are looking really threatening and sticking the ball in the back of the net. We want to rise to the manager’s challenge of staying unbeaten for the rest of the season, but we’ve got to make sure we’re right on the button.”

As one of the more experienced players in the team, Keogh is more than willing to live up to those responsibilities.

“The young lads have done great,” he said; “the only way you are going to learn is by making a few mistakes and it is just important that after you do that you don’t make them again.

“It’s great credit to the coaching staff to have coached these boys through the season and the older lads to have taken them under their wing a little bit and give them confidence.

“If I can help anyone in any way I will, whether that’s on the training field or the pitch, because I remember getting a lot of help and advice when I was a kid at Stoke from players who played in the Premier League, so it’s nice to pass things on.

“There were people like Michael Duberry and Gerry Taggart who had played for fantastic teams in the Premier League and as a young guy coming through and training with them I picked up things and if I ever had a question they would always help me.

"And one thing that has always stuck with me throughout my career was when Michael Duberry came up to me and said don’t ever stop asking questions.

“He said that when he was growing up at Chelsea that Graham Rix told the same thing, to never stop learning and asking questions, and I probably chew the young lads’ ears off a little bit too much at times but it has helped me in my career and hopefully I can help the boys here.”